Nail Clipping Device with a Warning Module

ABSTRACT

A nail clipping device with warning functions is disclosed, including: a nail clipper with arc-shaped cutting edges; a capacitive sensing module, located below the arc-shaped cutting edges of the nail clipper, enables measurement of the distance between the arc-shaped cutting edges of the nail clipper and the flesh below the nail; a warning module, located above the arc-shaped cutting edges of the nail clipper; and a control module, located at the lower portion of the device, and coupled to the capacitive sensing module and the warning module, capable of pre-setting a warning distance and comparing its corresponding reference voltage with variable sensing voltage, the control module amplifies and filters the output signal from the capacitive sensing module after voltage comparison, driving the warning module to emit a warning signal when the distance between the arc-shaped cutting edges of the nail clipper and the flesh below the nail is shorter than the warning distance.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to nail clippers, especially to a nail clipping device with warning functions.

BACKGROUND

During the human growth process, as nails often grow rather fast, there may be safety and hygiene issues associated with skins being scraped by nails and dirt hidden underneath the nails, making it essential to trim nails frequently. However, it is very difficult to trim children or babies' nails with common nail clippers, as they would often wiggle or resist, making it hard to align the nail clipper with the nails. Misuse of nail clippers when trimming a baby's short and delicate nails may result in accidents involving the flesh being cut, and this unhappy experience may lead the baby to further resist nail trimming thereafter, causing more difficulties and inconveniences for the parents in the future.

The existing capacitive sensing technology has been developed to become a rather matured technology, which may be applied to thousands of products. Currently, there are a few million accumulated usages of the capacitive sensing technology. The measuring element utilized in capacitive displacement sensing technology is the capacitor between the sensor pads at the conductive material region and their surrounding conductive materials. The formula (I) for calculating the sensor's capacitance is:

$\begin{matrix} {C = \frac{ɛ_{0} \cdot ɛ_{r} \cdot A}{d}} & (1) \end{matrix}$

wherein A represents the area of a sensor 40 shown in FIG. 1 a, d represents the distance between sensor 40 and a target 50 conductor, ε₀ represents the permittivity of free space and ε_(r) represents the relative dielectric constant. As the distance between the conductor (such as the finger) and the sensor 40 changes, the capacitance also changes. As the capacitive effect exists between all kinds of materials, protective measures to insulate noise are usually associated with sensor 40, adding two layers of package (ground layer 20 and protective layer 30) surrounding sensor 40 to prevent interferences from external noise, as shown in FIG. 1 b. In other words, FIG. 1 a illustrates the package structure of a capacitive displacement sensor. FIG. 1 b illustrates the corresponding equivalent circuit of capacitive displacement sensor 40. As the capacitive effect is utilized, a higher resolution for the capacitive displacement sensor may be achieved. The measuring range for normal capacitive displacement sensors is ±0.13 mm, with a resolution of 0.1 μm, an accuracy of 0.1-0.2% full scale, and the capacitive displacement sensor undertakes measurement without contact. Based on the above, existing capacitive displacement sensing technology is sufficient for performing micro-distance measurements.

Therefore, the present invention utilizes the capacitive displacement sensing technology and proposes a nail clipping device with warning functions, preventing accidental cuts to the flesh from happening.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a nail clipping device with warning functions, comprising a nail clipper body, with cutting edge portions placed on one end; a capacitive sensing module, placed below the cutting edge portions of the nail clipper body, acting as a detection device; a warning module, coupled to the capacitive sensing module for providing warnings. The present invention further comprises a button cell module located within the nail clipping device, for supplying power to the capacitive sensing module and the warning module. The warning module may produce sounds or emit lights to send out warning signals.

More specifically, the present invention provides a nail clipping device with warning functions, the device comprises: a nail clipper with arc-shaped cutting edges; a capacitive sensing module, located below the arc-shaped cutting edges of the nail clipper, enables measurement of the distance between the arc-shaped cutting edges of the nail clipper and the flesh below the nail; a warning module, coupled to the capacitive sensing module and located above the arc-shaped cutting edges of the nail clipper for providing warnings; and a control module, located at the lower portion of the nail clipping device, and coupled to the capacitive sensing module and the warning module. The control module is capable of pre-setting a warning distance and comparing its corresponding reference voltage with variable sensing voltage. The control module amplifies and filters the output signal from the capacitive sensing module after voltage comparison, driving the LED indicators on the warning module to go from green to red, or causing the speaker to produce warning noises as a warning signal when the distance between the arc-shaped cutting edges of the nail clipper and the flesh below the nail is shorter than the warning distance. This serves to prevent clipping accidents from happening, and when the distance between the arc-shaped cutting edges of the nail clipper and the flesh below the nail is greater than the warning distance, the control module turns the LED indicators on the warning module back to green.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a nail clipping device, the device comprises: a nail clipper with arc-shaped cutting edges; a capacitive sensing chip, located below the arc-shaped cutting edges of the nail clipper, enables measurement of the distance between the arc-shaped cutting edges of the nail clipper and the flesh below the nail; a warning module, coupled to the capacitive sensing chip and located above the arc-shaped cutting edges of the nail clipper for providing warnings; and a control module, located at the lower portion of the nail clipping device, and coupled to the capacitive sensing chip and the warning module. The control module is capable of pre-setting a warning distance and comparing its corresponding reference voltage with variable sensing voltage. The control module amplifies and filters the output signal from the capacitive sensing chip after voltage comparison, driving the LED indicators on the warning module to go from green to red, or causing the speaker to produce warning noises as a warning signal when the distance between the arc-shaped cutting edges of the nail clipper and the flesh below the nail is shorter than the warning distance. This serves to prevent clipping accidents from happening, and when the distance between the arc-shaped cutting edges of the nail clipper and the flesh below the nail is greater than the warning distance, the control module turns the LED indicators on the warning module back to green.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings shown in the present invention are not drawn to scale, certain portions of the drawings have been enlarged for better understanding and insignificant elements have not been described in detail.

The present invention may be understood by the detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiments outlined in the specification and the drawings attached, wherein:

FIG. 1 a illustrates a package structure of a capacitive displacement sensor;

FIG. 1 b illustrates a corresponding equivalent circuit of the capacitive displacement sensor shown in FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 2 illustrates a nail clipping device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of the system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of the system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In order to prevent accidental cuts to the flesh from happening, the present invention utilizes the capacitive displacement sensing technology, embeds a capacitive sensing module or a capacitive sensing chip into traditional nail clippers, thereby providing a nail clipping device with warning functions 100. The nail clipping device with warning functions is especially convenient for trimming the nails for babies, children, the wounded, patients and the aged. Please refer to FIG. 1, it illustrates a nail clipping device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. During the trimming process, when the cutting edges of nail clipping device 100 nearly touches the flesh, the warning device on nail clipping device 100, such as a speaker or a light-emitting diode (LED) indicators will make warning noises or turns the indicators from green to red as a warning signal, preventing accidents cuts from happening. In other words, in addition to the visual observations during nail trimming, the present invention adds the auxiliary function of providing warning signals.

In one embodiment, based on the principles of capacitive displacement sensing and formula (I) described above, when nail clipping device 100 approaches the fingers of the person trimming the nails, a capacitive sensing module 200 located below the arc-shaped cutting edges of nail clipping device 100 is able to calculate the distance between a capacitive sensing module 200 and the flesh. As shown in FIG. 3, capacitive sensing module 200 is controlled by a control module 300 located at the lower portion of nail clipping device 100. A warning distance may be pre-set through control module 300 (such as pre-setting the value of warning distance to be 1 mm), and the warning distance is saved within capacitive sensing module 200, while simultaneously recording the reference voltage value induced by the corresponding sensor's capacitance. Control module 300 compares each voltage signal measured by capacitive sensing module 200 to the reference voltage measured at the warning distance. When the distance between the arc-shaped cutting edges of nail clipping device 100 and the flesh is shorter than the warning distance, control module 300 amplifies and filters the signal outputted by capacitive sensing module 100 after voltage comparison has been carried out, driving a pre-set sound effect or indicator display in a warning module 400 located above the arc-shaped cutting edges of nail clipping device 100. This changes the color of LED indicators located above warning module 400 (such as turning from green light 70 to red light 80), or produces warning noises in a speaker (not shown) located on warning module 400, acting as a warning signal to prevent accidental cuts from happening. Moreover, if the distance between the arc-shaped cutting edges of nail clipping device 100 and the flesh is greater than the warning distance (in other words, of nail clipping device 100 is located outside the warning distance), then control module 300 will turn the LED indicators on warning module 400 back to green light 70. The aforementioned elements are coupled to each other, and internal power is supplied by a button cell module 500 located on the upper portion of nail clipping device 100. Button cell module 500 may include: lithium cells, mercury oxide cells, alkaline manganese cells, mercury cells, nickel metal hydride cells, and nickel cadmium cells etc.

In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the capacitive sensing module 200 in FIG. 3. is replaced by a capacitive sensing chip 600 located at the lower portion of nail clipping device 100. For example, the capacitive sensing chip 600 located below the arc-shaped cutting edges of nail clipping device 100 may be a single chip micro-controller unit (MCU) or a programmable system on chip (PSoC), and may comprise components such as digital and analog resources, multiplexer, configurable array and memory for interface connections and expansion. The single chip micro-controller unit has an analog to digital converter (ADC) with high signal to noise ratio (SNR) to minimize error, and the programmable system on chip may control the compensation parameters for interferences such as temperature, humidity and electrostatic discharge to improve sensing performance. Based on the principles of capacitive displacement sensing described above, when nail clipping device 100 approaches the fingers, other than using the above capacitive sensing calculation formula (I) to calculate the distance between the arc-shaped cutting edges of nail clipping device 100 and the flesh, a more accurate calculation may be done through the use of a program development tool for capacitive sensing chip 600, such as the program development tools (software) for PSoCs (PSoC Designer or PSoC Express) developed by Cypress Semiconductor Corporation. A warning distance may be pre-set through control module 700 located at the lower portion of nail clipping device 100, and the warning distance is saved within the memory component of capacitive sensing chip 600, while simultaneously recording the reference voltage value induced by the corresponding sensor's capacitance. Control module 700 compares each voltage signal measured by capacitive sensing chip 600 to the reference voltage measured at the warning distance. When the distance between the arc-shaped cutting edges of nail clipping device 100 and the flesh is shorter than the warning distance, control module 700 amplifies and filters the signal outputted by capacitive sensing module 600 after voltage comparison has been carried out, driving a warning module 800 located above the arc-shaped cutting edges of nail clipping device 100, which is responsive to capacitive sensing chip 600 for issuing warning. This changes the color of LED indicators located above warning module 400 (such as turning from green light 70 to red light 80), or produces warning noises in a speaker (not shown) located on warning module 800, acting as a warning signal to prevent accidental cuts from happening. Moreover, if nail clipping device 100 is located outside the warning distance, then control module 700 will turn the LED indicators on warning module 800 back to green light 70. The aforementioned elements are coupled to each other, and internal power is supplied by a button cell module 500 (not shown) located on the upper portion of nail clipping device 100. Button cell module 500 may include: lithium cells, mercury oxide cells, alkaline manganese cells, mercury cells, nickel metal hydride cells, and nickel cadmium cells etc.

Therefore, based on the principles of capacitive displacement sensing, the present invention provides a nail clipper with warning functions to ensure the safety of fingers, making it easier to trim nails and helps to lower the fear and resistance toward nail trimming.

The foregoing descriptions are for illustrative purposes only, the specific names used are provided for better understanding of the present invention; however, it should be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention do not have to be implemented according to the specific details disclosed. Thus, the aforementioned preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrative of the present invention rather than limiting the present invention. The present invention is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures. 

1. A nail clipping device with warning functions, comprising: a nail clipper body, with cutting edge portions placed on one end; a capacitive sensing module, placed below said cutting edge portions of said nail clipper body, acting as a detection device; and a warning module, coupled to said capacitive sensing module and responsive to said capacitive sensing module for issuing warning.
 2. The nail clipping device with warning functions of claim 1, further comprising a button cell located within said nail clipping device, for supplying power to said capacitive sensing module and said warning module.
 3. The nail clipping device with warning functions of claim 2, wherein said button cell comprises: lithium cells, mercury oxide cells, alkaline manganese cells, mercury cells, nickel metal hydride cells, and nickel cadmium cells.
 4. The nail clipping device with warning functions of claim 1, wherein said capacitive sensing module comprises: single chip micro-controller unit or programmable system on chip.
 5. The nail clipping device with warning functions of claim 4, wherein said single chip micro-controller unit has an analog to digital converter with high signal to noise ratio to minimize error, and said programmable system on chip may control compensation parameters for interferences such as temperature, humidity and electrostatic discharge to improve sensing performance.
 6. The nail clipping device with warning functions of claim 1, further comprising a control module, located at lower portion of said nail clipping device and coupled to said capacitive sensing module and said warning module, capable of pre-setting a warning distance and compares corresponding reference voltage with variable sensing voltage, amplifies and filters output signal from said capacitive sensing module after voltage comparison, driving said warning module when distance between said cutting edges portions of said nail clipper body and flesh below nail is shorter than said warning distance.
 7. The nail clipping device with warning functions of claim 1, wherein said warning module may produce sounds or emit lights to send out warning signals. 